'The guilty won't be spared': CM Yogi warns of 'exemplary' action

Facing severe criticism from the opposition over the death of scores of children in a state-run Gorakhpur hospital, Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath on Sunday promised “stringent” action against those found responsible for the tragedy.

| TNN | Updated: Aug 14, 2017, 02:13 PM IST

Highlights

CM Yogi Adityanath blamed encephalitis, not shortage in oxygen supply, as the reason for children's death at BRD Medical College

He said the matter is being thoroughly probed and action will be taken against those responsible

He added that PM Modi is very concerned and has extended help to the state

Rejecting reports of disruption in oxygen supply as the reason behind the fatalities at Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das Medical College hospital, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the death of 30 infants was due to encephalitis. Flanked by Union health minister JP Nadda, the chief minister admitted that while the state government has done a lot of work to tackle the disease, there still remains much room for improvement.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath (ANI image)

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GORAKHPUR: Facing severe criticism from the opposition over the death of scores of children in a state-run Gorakhpur hospital, Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath on Sunday promised "stringent" action against those found responsible for the tragedy. At least 30 children were reported dead between August 10 and 11 at BRD Medical College allegedly due to disruption in the supply of liquid oxygen.

The opposition has been demanding the registration of murder case against those found responsible for the "massacre".

Addressing a joint press conference with Union health minister JP Nadda after visiting the hospital, chief minister Yogi said a high-powered committee had been formed to investigate the reasons for the death of the children and demanded that the issue should not be politicized.

"We have formed a high-powered committee under the state chief secretary to probe the reason of the deaths of children. We are waiting for the report. If any death is caused by the negligence of the hospital authorities, strong action will be taken," Yogi said, his voice choking with emotions. The punishment will "set a standard", he said.

The chief minister, however, criticised the media over putting out "fake" news about the deaths and insisted they go inside the wards and see for themselves whether the patients were being treated or "massacred". Yogi said he had visited the hospital on August 9 and had a meeting with senior officials and the issue of lack of oxygen supply was not brought to his notice.

"I had a meeting with senior officials, MLAs, principal and head of departments and asked them about problems and requirements. The issue of NHM salary was discussed but not oxygen supply," the chief minister said.

Yogi said he has been fighting against Japanese Encephalitis for more than two decades. "I have witnessed children of east UP dying. We will not allow this to happen anymore...Who can be more sensitive to this issue (than me)? I have been raising it from the streets to Parliament...No one can understand the pain and agony more than me," he said.

Nadda said the Centre had sent a three-member high-power team to design an improved protocol to deal with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). He added that the Centre had approved Rs 85 crore for setting up a Central Viral Research Centre at Gorakhpur. He also said that the prime minister was concerned about the deaths and asking for regular updates.

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